1874–75 United States House of Representatives elections explained

Election Name:	1874–75 United States House of Representatives elections
Country:	United States
Flag Year:	1867
Type:	legislative
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	1872–73 United States House of Representatives elections
Next Election:	1876–77 United States House of Representatives elections
Seats For Election:	All 292 seats in the United States House of Representatives
Majority Seats:	147
Election Date:	November 3, 1874
Image1:	Michael C. Kerr - Brady-Handy (1).jpg
Leader1:	Michael Kerr
Party1:	Democratic Party (US)
Last Election1:	88 seats
Seats1:	180
Seat Change1:	92
Popular Vote1:	3,061,888
Percentage1:	49.12%
Swing1:	7.12%
Leader2:	James G. Blaine
Party2:	Republican Party (US)
Last Election2:	195 seats
Seats2:	103
Seat Change2:	92
Popular Vote2:	2,766,257
Percentage2:	44.38%
Swing2:	8.47%
Party4:	Anti-Monopoly
Color4:	66F500
Last Election4:	0 seats
Seats4:	1
Seat Change4:	1
Popular Vote4:	79,816
Percentage4:	1.28%
Swing4:	New
Party5:	Reform Party (19th-century Wisconsin)
Last Election5:	0 seats
Seats5:	1
Seat Change5:	1
Popular Vote5:	9,546
Percentage5:	0.15%
Swing5:	New
Party7:	Independent (US)
Last Election7:	1 seat
Seats7:	4
Seat Change7:	3
Popular Vote7:	276,554
Percentage7:	4.44%
Swing7:	2.19%
Map Size:	320px
Speaker
Before Election:	James G. Blaine
Before Party:	Republican Party (US)
After Election:	Michael Kerr
After Party:	Democratic Party (US)

The 1874–75 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between June 1, 1874, and September 7, 1875. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 44th United States Congress convened on December 6, 1875. Elections were held for all 292 seats, representing 37 states.

These elections were held in the middle of President Ulysses S. Grant's second term with a deep economic depression underway. It was an important turning point, as the Republicans lost heavily and the Democrats gained control of the House. It signaled the imminent end of Reconstruction, which Democrats opposed. Historians emphasize the factors of economic depression and attacks on the Grant administration for corruption as key factors in the vote.^[1]

With the election following the Panic of 1873, Grant's Republican Party was crushed in the elections, losing their majority and almost half their seats to the Democratic Party. This was the first period of Democratic control since the pre-war era. The economic crisis and the inability of Grant to find a solution led to his party's defeat. This was the second-largest swing in the history of the House (only behind the 1894 elections), and is the largest House loss in the history of the Republican Party.

In the south, the Democrats continued their systematic destruction of the Republican coalition. In the South, Scalawags moved into the Democratic Party. The Democratic landslide signaled the imminent end of Reconstruction, which Democrats opposed and a realignment of the Republican coalition that had dominated American politics since the late 1850s.^[2]

While the ongoing end of Reconstruction in the South was one of the main reasons for the shift, turn-of-the-century historian James Ford Rhodes explored the multiple causes of the results in the North:^[3]

Rhodes continues:

The political revolution from 1872 to 1874 was due to the failure of the Southern policy of the Republican party, to the Credit Mobilier and Sanborn contract scandals, to corrupt and inefficient administration in many departments and to the persistent advocacy of Grant by some close friends and hangers-on for a third presidential term. Some among the opposition were influenced by the President's backsliding in the cause of civil service reform, and others by the failure of the Republican party to grapple successfully with the financial question. The depression, following the financial Panic of 1873, and the number of men consequently out of employment weighed in the scale against the party in power. In Ohio, the result was affected by the temperance crusade in the early part of the year. Bands of women of good social standing marched to saloons before which or in which they sang hymns and, kneeling down, prayed that the great evil of drink might be removed. Sympathizing men wrought with them in causing the strict law of the State against the sale of strong liquor to be rigidly enforced. Since Republicans were in the main the instigators of the movement, it alienated from their party a large portion of the German American vote.

Special elections

• : 1874
• : 1874
• : 1875
• : 1875
• : 1875

Election summaries

↓

182	8	103
Democratic		Republican

State	Type	Total seats	Democratic	Republican	Independent
				Seats		Change		Seats		Change		Seats		Change
Alabama	District + 2 at-large	8		6		4		2		4		0
Arkansas	District	4		4		4		0		4		0
California	District	4		3		2		1		2		0
Connecticut	District	4		3		2		1		2		0
Delaware	At-large	1		1		1		0		1		0
Florida	District	2		1		1		1		1		0
Georgia	District	9		9		2		0		2		0
Illinois	District	19		11		6		6		8		2		2
Indiana	District	13		8		5		5		5		0
Iowa	District	9		1		1		8		1		0
Kansas	District	3		1		1		2		1		0
Kentucky	District	10		9		1		1		1		0
Louisiana	District	6		4		3		2		2		0
Maine	District	5		0				5				0
Maryland	District	6		6		2		0		2		0
Massachusetts	District	11		5		5		4		7		2		2
Michigan	District	9		3		3		6		3		0
Minnesota	District	3		0				3				0
Mississippi	District	6		4		3		2		3		0
Missouri	District	13		13		4		0		4		0
Nebraska	At-large	1		0				1				0
Nevada	At-large	1		0		1		1		1		0
New Hampshire	District	3		2		1		1		1		0
New Jersey	District	7		5		4		2		4		0
New York	District	33		17		8		16		8		0
North Carolina	District	8		7		2		1		2		0
Ohio	District	20		13		7		7		7		0
Oregon	At-large	1		1		1		0		1		0
Pennsylvania	District	27		17		12		10		12		0
Rhode Island	District	2		0				2				0
South Carolina	District	5		0				5				0
Tennessee	District	10		9		6		1		6		0
Texas	District	6		6				0				0
Vermont	District	3		0				3				0
Virginia	District	9		8		4		1		4		0
West Virginia	District	3		3		1		0		1		0
Wisconsin	District	8		3		1		5		1		0
align=center colspan=2	Total	293		183		94		105		93		4		4

Election dates

In 1845, Congress passed a law providing for a uniform nationwide date for choosing Presidential electors.^[4] This law did not affect election dates for Congress, which remained within the jurisdiction of State governments, but over time, the states moved their congressional elections to this date as well. In 1874–75, there were still 10 states with earlier election dates, and 3 states with later election dates:

• Early elections (1874):
  • June 1 Oregon
  • August 6 North Carolina
  • September 1 Vermont
  • September 14 Maine
  • October 7 Georgia
  • October 13 Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, West Virginia
• Late elections (1875):
  • March 9, 1875 New Hampshire
  • April 5, 1875 Connecticut
  • September 7, 1875 California

Alabama

See also: List of United States representatives from Alabama.

Arkansas

See also: List of United States representatives from Arkansas.

|-! | Asa Hodges| | Republican| 1872| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | Oliver P. Snyder| | Republican| 1870| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | William J. Hynes
| | Republican| 1872| | Incumbent defeated.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | Thomas M. Gunter
| | Democratic| 1872| | New seat.
Incumbent re-elected.
Democratic hold.| nowrap |

|}

Arizona Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

California

See main article: 1875 United States House of Representatives elections in California.

See also: List of United States representatives from California and 1874 United States Senate election in California.

|-! | Charles Clayton| | Republican| 1872| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Horace F. Page| | Republican| 1872| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | John K. Luttrell| | Democratic| 1872| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Sherman O. Houghton| | Republican| 1871| | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|}

Colorado Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Connecticut

See also: List of United States representatives from Connecticut.

Delaware

See also: List of United States representatives from Delaware.

Florida

See main article: 1874 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida.

See also: List of United States representatives from Florida and 1875 United States Senate election in Florida.

|-! | William J. Purman
| | Republican| 1872| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Josiah T. Walls
| | Republican| 1870| Incumbent re-elected.
The election was later successfully challenged.| nowrap |

|}

Georgia

See also: List of United States representatives from Georgia.

Idaho Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Illinois

See also: List of United States representatives from Illinois.

Indiana

See also: List of United States representatives from Indiana.

Iowa Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Kansas

See also: List of United States representatives from Kansas.

Kentucky

See also: List of United States representatives from Kentucky.

Louisiana

See also: List of United States representatives from Louisiana.

Maine

See also: List of United States representatives from Maine.

Maryland

See also: List of United States representatives from Maryland.

Massachusetts

See also: List of United States representatives from Massachusetts.

|-! | James Buffinton| | Republican| 1868| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Benjamin W. Harris| | Republican| 1872| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | William Whiting II| | Republican| 1872| |Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|-! | Samuel Hooper| | Republican| 1861 (special)| |Incumbent retired.
New member elected after initial result overturned.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Daniel W. Gooch| | Republican| 1872| |Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Independent gain. | nowrap |

|-! | Benjamin Butler| | Republican| 1866| |Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Ebenezer R. Hoar| | Republican| 1872| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |-! | John M. S. Williams| | Republican| 1872| | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | George F. Hoar| | Republican| 1868| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Alvah Crocker| | Republican| 1872 (special)| |Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Independent gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Henry L. Dawes| | Republican| 1856| |Incumbent retired to run for U.S. Senate.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap | |}

Michigan

See also: List of United States representatives from Michigan.

Minnesota

See also: List of United States representatives from Minnesota.

Mississippi

See also: List of United States representatives from Mississippi.

|-! | Lucius Q. C. Lamar| | Democratic| 1872| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Albert R. Howe| | Republican| 1872| | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Independent Republican gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Henry W. Barry| | Republican| 1869| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Jason Niles| | Republican| 1872| | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | George C. McKee| | Republican| 1869| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | John R. Lynch| | Republican| 1872| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|}

Missouri

See also: List of United States representatives from Missouri.

Montana Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Nebraska

See also: List of United States representatives from Nebraska. |-! | Lorenzo Crounse| | Republican | 1872| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|}

Nevada

See also: List of United States representatives from Nevada.

New Hampshire

See also: List of United States representatives from New Hampshire.

New Jersey

See also: List of United States representatives from New Jersey.

New Mexico Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

New York

See also: List of United States representatives from New York.

North Carolina

See also: List of United States representatives from North Carolina.

Ohio

See also: List of United States representatives from Ohio.

Oregon

See also: List of United States representatives from Oregon.

Pennsylvania

See also: List of United States representatives from Pennsylvania.

Rhode Island

See also: List of United States representatives from Rhode Island.

South Carolina

See main article: 1874 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina.

See also: List of United States representatives from South Carolina.

|-! | Joseph Rainey| | Republican| 1870 | Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Alonzo J. Ransier| | Republican| 1872| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Independent Republican gain.
Election was later successfully challenged, declared vacant, and a special election was then held.| nowrap |

|-! | Robert B. Elliott| | Republican| 1870| | Incumbent resigned November 1, 1874, to serve as sheriff.
new member elected.
Republican hold| nowrap |

|-! | Alexander S. Wallace| | Republican| 1868| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Richard H. Cain
| | Republican| 1872| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|}

Tennessee

See also: List of United States representatives from Tennessee.

|-! | Roderick R. Butler| | Republican | 1867| |Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Jacob M. Thornburgh| | Republican| 1872| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | William Crutchfield| | Republican| 1872| |Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | colspan=3 | None (new district)| | New district.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | John M. Bright
| | Democratic| 1870| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Horace Harrison
| | Republican| 1872| | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Washington C. Whitthorne
| | Democratic| 1870| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | John D. C. Atkins
| | Democratic| 1872| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | David A. Nunn
| | Republican| 1872| |Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Barbour Lewis
| | Republican| 1872| | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.|

|}

Texas

See also: List of United States representatives from Texas.

Utah Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Vermont

See also: List of United States representatives from Vermont.

Virginia

See also: List of United States representatives from Virginia.

Washington Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

West Virginia

See also: List of United States representatives from West Virginia.

|-! | John J. Davis| | Independent
Democratic| 1870| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | John Hagans| | Republican| 1872| | Incumbent lost re-election as an Independent.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Frank Hereford| | Democratic| 1870| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|}

Wisconsin

See also: List of United States representatives from Wisconsin.

|-! | Charles G. Williams| | Republican| 1872| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Gerry Whiting Hazelton| | Republican| 1870| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|-! | J. Allen Barber| | Republican| 1870| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|-! | Alexander Mitchell| | Democratic| 1870| | Incumbent retired.
new member elected.
Democratic hold.| nowrap |

|-! | Charles A. Eldredge| | Democratic| 1862| | Incumbent lost renomination.
New member elected.
Democratic hold.| nowrap |

|-! | Philetus Sawyer| | Republican| 1864| | Incumbent retired.
new member elected.
Republican hold.| nowrap |

|-! | Jeremiah McLain Rusk| | Republican| 1870| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-! | Alexander S. McDill| | Republican| 1872| | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|}

Wyoming Territory

See Non-voting delegates, below.

Non-voting delegates

See also: Non-voting members of the United States House of Representatives.

|-!

|-! | Moses K. Armstrong| | Democratic| 1870| | Incumbent lost re-election.
New member elected.
Republican gain.| nowrap |

|-! | Jerome B. Chaffee| | Republican| 1870| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Democratic gain.| nowrap |

|-! | John Hailey| | Democratic| 1872| | Incumbent retired.
New member elected.
Independent gain.
Result successfully contested.
Democratic hold.| nowrap |

|-! | Martin Maginnis| | Democratic| 1872| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|-!

|-!

|-!

|-! | William R. Steele| | Democratic| 1872| Incumbent re-elected.| nowrap |

|}

See also

• 1874 United States elections
  • 1874–75 United States Senate elections
• 43rd United States Congress
• 44th United States Congress

Bibliography

• Book: Dubin, Michael J. . United States Congressional Elections, 1788-1997: The Official Results of the Elections of the 1st Through 105th Congresses . March 1, 1998 . McFarland and Company . 978-0786402830.
• Book: Martis, Kenneth C. . The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress, 1789-1989 . January 1, 1989 . Macmillan Publishing Company . 978-0029201701 . .
• Book: Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections . 1994 . Congressional Quarterly Inc. . 978-0871879967 . Moore . John L. . Third.
• Web site: Party Divisions of the House of Representatives* 1789–Present . January 21, 2015 . Office of the Historian, House of United States House of Representatives.

External links

• Office of the Historian (Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)

Notes and References

1. Barreyre . Nicolas . 2011 . The Politics of Economic Crises: The Panic of 1873, the End of Reconstruction, and the realignment of American Politics . Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era . 10 . 4 . 403–423 . 10.1017/S1537781411000260.
2. Campbell . James E. . Fall 2006 . Party Systems and Realignments in the United States, 1868-2004 . Social Science History . 30 . 3 . 359–386 . 10.1017/S014555320001350X . 15075840.
3. Book: Rhodes, James Ford . History of the United States from the Compromise of 1850: 1872-1877 . The Macmillan company . 1920 . 67.
4. Statutes at Large, 28th Congress, 2nd Session, p. 721.